Wheelchair for Disabled

People in Scotland

This fact sheet provides an overview of for disabled people in Scotland. It also provides useful contact details to signpost you to your local club to develop your skills and start to play or coach disabled people in wheelchair basketball.

The Development of Wheelchair Basketball European Champions from 1982 to the end of the decade. Wheelchair basketball is a fun and exciting which can be played by all people of any age, gender or In 1993 the GB men's team took the Silver medal at the ability. The inclusive nature of the sport enables European Championships, losing 57 - 52 to The players of mixed abilities to play on the same team. In Netherlands. In 1995, the GB team won its first Scotland there are clubs which provide opportunities International competition since the 1970's when they for players to train and play recreationally right through defeated Spain 61 - 59 in the Final of the European to more competitive opportunities within the two Championships. This was followed, in August 1996, by national league clubs based in West Lothian and East the GB team taking its first ever Paralympic Medal at Renfrewshire. the Championships in Atlanta, defeated by Australia 63- 78 achieving the Silver Medal. In 2015 wheelchair basketball celebrates its 70th anniversary. The game was first played in the USA, Madrid hosted the 1997 the European Championships, when basketball players injured during World War II where the GB Men's team won the Silver Medal, losing adapted the running game to four wheels in order to to France 44 - 46 in the final. The GB Women's team continue their enjoyment and participate in . won the Bronze Medal in the women's event, won by Although initially a rehabilitation and recreational the Netherlands. The two Silver Medals won by the GB activity for spinal cord injured patients, it quickly Men's team were instrumental in them obtaining developed into a competitive sport. In 1955 the touring National Lottery funding, through UK Sport's World US Pan Am Jets team first brought wheelchair Class Performance Programme in 1998. This allowed basketball to England when they took part in the first the Association to employ a full time Performance international competition at Stoke Mandeville. Up to Director and professional coaching staff for the team that time wheelchair had been played in and squad members received individual grants to allow England. them to become full time athletes.

The 1960's saw the sport dominated by two teams, the Inclusive Zone Basketball USA and latterly Israel who won both men's and women's gold medals at the 1968 Paralympic Games in Inclusive Zone Basketball (IZB) is a 4 a-side game, Tel Aviv. In the early 1970's the European stage was developed to enable players who cannot participate in dominated by Great Britain and in 1975 the first World a full game of basketball to enjoy playing the game. The Championships for Men, the Gold Cup, took place in zones used, enable both running and wheelchair Bruges, Belgium. Israel defeated the USA in the final 50 basketball players to be matched in their abilities within - 47, with Great Britain taking the bronze medal. these zones. IZB is played across the UK and is British Throughout the 1980's, France emerged as a most Wheelchair Basketball’s main schools competition. potent wheelchair basketball force. They won the Men's Paralympic title in 1984 and were Men's

The small-sided teams and adapted playing area enable limbs. To ensure a fair and level playing field, the girls and boys, both disabled* and non-disabled, to International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF), participate in a fun game of basketball. The game takes classify players according to their functional ability in into account principles of the ‘Social Model’ of the playing chair. Internationally there are 5 main disability, and lends itself to the modified and parallel classes: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 4.5. Players in classes 1 – 4 can sections of the ‘Inclusion Spectrum’. also be assigned a .5 classification eg. 1.5.

* Suitable for electric wheelchair players, manual British Wheelchair Basketball (BWB), also permit wheelchair players and ambulant with physical players who do not qualify for IWBF classification to impairments. Players with learning disabilities may play in BWB domestic leagues and competitions as 5.0, require additional support from Leaders in recognising this also includes able-bodied players. and playing within the designated zones. Inclusive Zone Basketball is a great way for schools to Coach Education get young people with physical impairments involved in team . As the sport grows, the goal is to have The BWB award structure prepares coaches for their local and regional IZB festivals, culminating in a Scottish pathway within the Long Term Coach Development National IZB Finals – with the winners being invited to model, and provides the foundations for their Continual the British Wheelchair Basketball IZB Festival in March Professional Development (CPD). Courses are available each year. from Leader Award through Grade 1 (assistant coach), Grade 2 (Coach) and Grade 3 (Advanced Coach). The Classifications The structure also promotes a holistic player centred approach, where the Coach is concerned with the Wheelchair Basketball embraces a wide range of development of players' technical, tactical, physical, disabilities including paraplegics, spina bifida, mental and personal skills appropriate to the needs, amputees, brittle bones, cerebral palsy and multiple ability, and well-being of the player. This approach sclerosis. Virtually everyone who can conceivably play helps form the foundation for lifelong participation in wheelchair basketball is encouraged to do so. sport, through the Long Term Player Development model, and is achieved through fun and enjoyable To be able to play wheelchair basketball, players must games and activities. have disability or impairment that affects their lower

Helpful Resources Leading Performers

There are a number of courses available for those Scotland has including Sarah Baillie (GB Paralympian wishing to become involved in coaching Wheelchair 1996-2002) and Calum Gordon (GB Paralympian 1988- Basketball: 1996, achieving a silver medal in Atlanta in 1996).  Leaders Award Aspiring GB international, Steven Ross, has represented  Introduction in Officiating Award both Scotland and GB at U23 age groups and is now on  Grade 1 Coaching Award a senior GB Performance Pathway.  Grade 2 Coaching Award Competitions For more information about either taking part in or holding a course, please contact BWB Workforce There is a wide range of opportunities for people to Development Officer Samantha Lue on participate in wheelchair basketball in Scotland from s.lu e@b riti sh wh eelch airb asket b all.co .u k junior recreational level to senior elite performance, 01509 279900 including the following playing opportunities: Inclusive Zone Basketball (a combination of running and UK Disability Inclusion Training (Basketball) wheelchair basketball for school based competition) Scottish Development League (for Scottish Local League The UK Disability Inclusion Training (Basketball) course Clubs). which was developed through a key partnership between basketballscotland and Scottish Disability  British Wheelchair Basketball National Leagues Sport is now available. Division 1 to 4 (for Scottish National League Clubs)  British Wheelchair Basketball Junior League U15 SportsCoach UK Course - How to Coach Disabled & U19 People in Sport  British Wheelchair Basketball Women’s League Division 1 & 2 This workshop aims to answer all the commonly asked  *British Wheelchair Basketball National Junior questions about disabled participants in sport and how Championships U15 & U19 to set up coaching sessions to suit their needs. It gives  *British Wheelchair Basketball Celtic Cup advice on how to plan a session or make minor (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland U23) adjustments to the way you work, to make your  *IWBF U23 Men’s European & World coaching more effective. Championships  *IWBF U25 Women’s European & World Facts & Figures Championships  *IWBF Men’s & Women’s European, World &  British Wheelchair Basketball consists of 65 teams Paralympic Championships playing in 9 Divisions. Scotland has 2 National League clubs (West of Scotland Warriors and *note that participation in these competitions involve Lothian Phoenix) and 2 Associate Member Clubs British Wheelchair Basketball selection process (Grampian Flyers and Dundee Dragons).  Recent World and European GB achievements:  2011 European Championships: GB Men – Gold GB Women – Bronze  2012 Paralympic Games (England): GB Men – 4th place GB Women – 7th place  2013 European Championships: GB Men – Gold GB Women – Bronze  The Women’s World Championships are being held 23rd-29th June and the Men’s 5th – 15th July

Key Contacts West of Scotland Warriors Club contact: Ryan Alexander [email protected] Tina Gordon, Wheelchair Basketball Development www.westofscotlandwheelchairsportsclub.btck.co.uk Officer Training: Tuesday & Thursday 8pm – 10pm basketballscotland Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Rd, Giffnock, Glasgow, Caledonia House, Edinburgh EH12 9DQ East Renfrewshire, G46 6UG 0131 317 726 / 07734 845 950 Email: tina.gordon@basket ball-scotland.com Grampian Flyers Club contact: Grant Wilson [email protected] British Wheelchair Basketball www .flyersb asket b all.co .u k SportPark, 3 Oakwood Drive, Loughborough Training: Monday 7pm – 8pm Leicester LE11 3QF The Beach Leisure Centre, Aberdeen, AB24 5NR 01509 279900 www .gb wb a.or g.uk Dundee Dragons Club contact: Sally Lumsdaine Key Websites [email protected] www .d u n d eed ragon s.n et Lothian Phoenix Training: Saturday 10am – 12pm Club contact: Terry Gillan t err ygillan @gmail.co m Lynch Sports Centre, South Rd, Dundee, DD2 4SR www .lot h ianp h oen ix.org.u k Training: Tuesday & Thursday 7pm – 9pm (seniors), 7pm – 8pm (juniors) Armadale Academy, West Main St., Armadale, EH48 3LY

Fast and dynamic, wheelchair Basketball is a great team sport that caters for all levels of ability and disability